2026 NAACP Awards
By Tatum Trammell
The annual NAACP Awards will be held tomorrow, Feb. 28, at 8 p.m. Since 1967, these awards have celebrated the accomplishments of Black people in a host of creative endeavors in arts and entertainment. This year, the awards will be held in Pasadena, California, at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. These awards will present honors to Colman Domingo, recipient of the President’s Award, and Viola Davis, winner of the Chairman’s Award. Highly anticipated awards like Entertainer of the Year, Best Actor and more will be announced that night. For a closer look at the nominees, visit the NAACP Image Awards website.
Amputee in Georgia ICE Detention
By Trey Voegtlin
Nearly a year ago, Loganville barber and double amputee, Rodney Taylor, was detained in Georgia and sent to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center, 40 miles north-east of Atlanta. Since detained, Taylor’s health has taken a turn for the worse, and Representative Pramila Jayapal, along with 20 United States congressmen, are fighting for his release from ICE custody. They have submitted a two-page letter to head of Department of Home Land Security (DHS), Kristi Noem, pleading for his release due to his deteriorating health. Taylor has had several issues while in custody, including improper care when it comes to his prosthetics legs with them being left uncaliberated, unlined and rarely charged.
Board of peace in Geneva
On Feb. 19, in Washington D.C., the Board of Peace met for their inaugural meeting. President Donald Trump, the head of the board, wants the Board of Peace to act as a supervisor to the United Nations. Trump announced last Sept. that he had plans for establishing the Board of Peace as part of his plan to end the Israel-Gaza war.
“I think it [The Board of Peace] is going to be much stronger, and the Board of Peace is going to almost be looking over the United Nations and making sure it runs properly,” Trump said.
Many countries, business leaders, and other political figures were invited to join the committee.
The meeting was attended by 50 countries, 27 of those were part of the board, the rest were observers. Members agreed to give $7 billion to Gaza, which will go toward rebuilding the territory.
California and Utah Avalanche
By Kaden Bruton
On Feb. 17, in the Sierra Nevada near Lake Tahoe in California, an avalanche occurred. Emergency teams recovered nine bodies, most of which belonged to a group of skiers who were headed to the Sierra Nevada. Officials have identified six of the victims as Carrie Atkin, Liz Clabaugh, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, Caroline Sekar and Kate Vitt. A few days later, on Feb. 21, another avalanche took place in Big Cottonwood Canyon in Utah. In that case, two skiers were injured, and there are further reports that a 57 year old man was injured and in critical condition when he was found. Some research suggests that climate change–with its increased snowfall at higher elevations–will likely lead to more avalanches in the future.
Man Fatally Shot by Secret Service
By Joy Ferguson
At 1:30 am on Sunday, Feb. 22, Secret Service Agents and a Palm Beach County deputy shot an armed man outside The Mar-A-Lago Club. The suspect, Austin Tucker Martin, 21, of North Carolina, was armed with what appeared to be a shotgun and a fuel can. Before the incident, Martin’s family reported him missing after he unexpectedly vanished on Saturday. When Secret Service Agents and the deputy first confronted Martin, they told him to lower both pieces of equipment, but he only lowered the gas can. Martin then raised his shotgun to a shooting position and was shot immediately by the deputy and one Agent. At a press conference after the incident, an unidentified Secret Service Agent said, “The incident, including the man’s background, actions, potential motive and the use of force, is under investigation by the FBI, the U.S. Secret Service and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.”
Northeastern Blizzard
By Shaw Gordon
This week, the northeastern United States has seen significant snowfall. Spreading from New York to Maine, some places in the northeast have seen up to three feet of snow. Millions have lost power, and, in some cities, transportation has been shut down. Some meteorologists suggest that it is the strongest storm in a decade and will have lingering impacts.
Supreme Court Rules Against Recently Imposed Tariffs
By Akiva Bryant
On Feb. 20, 2026, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) ruled, in a 6-3 decision, that President Donald Trump exceeded his presidential power by imposing sweeping tariffs on numerous countries and trading partners. On April 2, 2025, also known as “Liberation Day,” President Trump announced that he will place 10% tariffs on all imported goods, along with placing reciprocal tariffs, which allow a country to place the same tariffs that a country has on them. While controversial, the tariffs were put in place to address trading deficits between the U.S. and other countries. In order to justify the tariffs, President Trump relied on the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which states that the President has executive power over emergencies that deal with the economy and commerce.
In the recent ruling, SCOTUS went against President Trump’s tariffs and his use of the IEEPA, leading to backlash and criticism from the president. In response, President Trump announced a 10% global tariff, which he eventually raised to 15%.
USA Hockey Olympics
By Harper Scully
This year’s Olympics were a success for the American hockey teams. Both the U.S. men’s and women’s teams won gold in the finals against Canada, each with a final score of 2-1. The success against Canada surprised many fans because of their 14 gold medals in hockey versus the U.S.’s six. The U.S.’s last gold medal in men’s hockey was in 1980 and 2018 for the women’s team. The 2026 Winter Olympics was a success for the United States with the 12 gold medals and earning 2nd place in the overall medal tally.
